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The story centers around a boy named Akihisa Yoshii, the titular baka (idiot) of the story. He attends Fumizuki Academy in Japan, a school where the staff rigidly divides the students based on the results of their academic scores. At the start of the school, students are academically sorted by entrance exam test grades. The higher the grades, the higher the class, and the better the benefits. In this case, Class A is filled with the highest-scoring students; therefore, their classroom is filled with many prestigious items (air conditioners, fancy seats, laptops, a free snack bar, etc.), while the state of Class F is the complete opposite of that, representing the "bottom of the barrel" amenities, such as mats and low wooden tables.The story also loosely revolves around the love triangle consisting of Mizuki Himeji (an intelligent girl who was forced into Class F just because of a fever), Minami Shimada (a transfer student from Germany who struggles with kanji), and Akihisa, their crush.

Fumizuki Academy has a special system, whereby all the students are able to call forth Summoned Beings (Shōkanjū, or "Avatars" in the official English translation[1]). These Beings are used for battles between classes with the goal of capturing (or retaining) the best classroom facilities. Since Class A is filled with prodigies, they all have strong Summoned Beings, while Class F has drastically weak ones in comparison. A teacher must authorize/supervise each battle, and the health and strength of each student's Summoned Being is based on their last test score in that teacher's subject (i.e. Math, History, etc.). The Beings lose points when struck by an opponent, and should their point count reach zero, the being and student are disqualified, and must take supplementary lessons with the strict remedial teacher, Soichi Nishimura (nicknamed "Iron Man"). However, if the student can leave the battle before reaching zero, these points can be replenished by taking a supplemental exam. The student's Being may then return to the battle.

On the day of the placement test, Mizuki suffers from a fever during the test and is unable to complete it, hence her reining in a score of zero. As a result, she is pigeonholed into Class F together with Akihisa. Akihisa, who dreams of the day when the academy would no longer be divided by grades, pitches an idea to his class to rule over the higher-level classes by conducting a Summoner War for both Mizuki's sake and to get more privileges. Aside from Mizuki (who happens to be the second-ranked student in Year 2), there is also the class representative Yūji Sakamoto, the bishōnen Hideyoshi Kinoshita, the perverted Kouta Tsuchiya (AKA Silent Ninja Pervert, Muttsurīni), and Minami. (Akihisa claims she is his worst enemy, but she actually has a crush on him and is reluctant to show it.) Throughout the year, Class F attempt several Summoner Wars against higher-ranked classes.

Baka and Test began as a light novel series written by Kenji Inoue, with illustrations by Yui Haga. Enterbrain published 18 volumes from January 29, 2007 to March 30, 2015 under their Famitsu Bunko imprint;[2][3] 12 comprise the main story, while the other six are side story collections.[4]

A manga adaptation titled Baka to Test to Shōkanjū(バカとテストと召喚獣), illustrated by both Mosuke Mattaku and Yumeuta, began serialization in Kadokawa Shoten's Shōnen Ace with the June 2009 issue sold on April 25, 2009. The first tankōbon volume was published on December 19, 2009,[5] and 13 volumes have been released as of June 26, 2015.[6] The English version of the manga adaptation is available on BookWalker.[7] Another manga adaptation, titled Baka to Test to Shōkanjū Ja(バカとテストと召喚獣ぢゃ) and illustrated by Koizumi, was serialized between the February 2010 and January 2014 issues of Shōnen Ace. Kadokawa Shoten published four volumes between August 26, 2010 and January 25, 2014. A third manga adaptation, titled Baka to Test to Shōkanjū Spinout! Sore ga Bokura no Nichijō(バカとテストと召喚獣 SPINOUT! それが僕らの日常。) and illustrated by Namo, was serialized in Enterbrain's online magazine Famitsu Comic Clear between October 30, 2009 and August 12, 2012. Enterbrain published six volumes between May 27, 2010 and June 22, 2012.

A 13-episode anime television series adaptation produced by the animation studio Silver Link and directed by Shin Ōnuma[8] aired in Japan between January 7 and March 31, 2010. A two-episode original video animation (OVA) series titled Baka to Test to Shōkanjū: Matsuri[9] were released on Blu-ray and DVD from February 23, 2011 to March 30, 2011. A second anime television series titled Baka to Test to Shōkanjū: Ni! aired in Japan between July 8 and September 30, 2011. Funimation licensed both seasons and the OVAs for distribution in North America.[1][10] Both seasons have appeared on the Funimation Channel.[11]

The first anime season's opening theme is "Perfect-area Complete!" by Natsuko Aso, composed by Kenichi Maeyamada. The first ending theme is "Baka Go Home" by Milktub and BakaTest All Stars and the second ending theme is "Hare Tokidoki Egao" by Hitomi Harada, Kaori Mizuhashi, Emiri Katou and Tomomi Isomura. For the Matsuri OVAs, the opening theme is "Ren'ai Kōjō Committee" (恋愛向上committee) by Aso, and the ending theme is "Getsuyō wa Kirai" (月曜はキライ) by Milktub. For the second anime season, the opening theme is "Kimi+Nazo+Watashi de Jump!!" (君+謎+私でJUMP!!) by Larval Stage Planning, and the ending theme is "Eureka Baby" (エウレカベイビー) by Aso.

A PlayStation Portable video game titled Baka to Test to Shōkanjū Portable was released on December 13, 2012 in a regular edition and a limited edition box set.[12][13] The game is featured as a board/adventure game genre along with the following: Summoned Beast Battles, Recovery Tests, Roulette, Equipment Mass, Grade Points and Cards as Power-Ups. There are nine characters to choose from—Akihisa, Mizuki, Minami, Yūji, Hideyoshi, Kōta, Shōko, Yūko and Miharu—with individual storylines of their own. As a new player, only Akihisa, Yūji, Hideyoshi and Kōta can be chosen by default. To unlock the other 5 characters, the other four characters must first be played in story mode.

The story of the game is that the Principal of Fumizuki Academy, Tōdo Kaworu has implemented a new summoning system in which students put their luck and skills to the test through board gaming in real time. Thus, creating an event that everyone will interact. If one person wins within three stages without a loss of one, he or she will get to choose the prize of their own desire. Some others do not deserve a prize given by the Principal. If the Principal rejects the prize of your desire, she'll have to find a way.